We were looking for a possible project right after Caleb made a pillow case in school. He had really liked serging so he wanted to do something with a serger. My mom had just given Greta a baby blanket that she had just serged the edges to finish it off. He liked the idea of making blankets and so he looked around for a place he could send them. Caleb found a local organization that would take blankets to Haiti that could be given to an orphanage there. He was excited. After the project was approved, I told him, "Caleb, you will be saving at least 15 babies lives with these blankets." The biggest grin spread across his face--that thought made this tenderhearted kid very happy.
We originally were going to make 15 blankets and budgeted $10 a piece for them--$150. One night Tom and I were in the mall and noticed the Deseret Book in there had fabric. They had a lot of flannel on clearance--50-75% off! So the next day we headed back with Caleb and helpers and got 32 yards of fabric for $48! (32 yards would make 16 blankets--one Caleb and I would do together so he could learn how to do it then be able to teach the boys what to do.) The next weekend we were at a garage sale and I found a serger for $100! I could get it and still stay within the budget! (been wanting a serger anyway! and that way I wouldn't have to borrow one) However, after we got working, we realized he wouldn't have quite enough hours with just the 16 blankets so we went and got fabric for 4 more (that fabric was on sale so we only paid $6 a blanket--still better price than we had budgeted). So he made a total of 20 blankets. It has been a really great project for him.
We broke a lot of the work into 1-2 hour segments over a few weeks. We shopped for fabric, 
washed and ironed it (this is the kind of photos I get when I ask Cache to go in and photograph the work!)
and cut and pinned pieces together. 
Then we got together last Friday and did all of the sewing and serging. My mom came down and brought her serger and sewing machine so we had two of each and work for all the boys who came.
The boys did a great job. Caleb has been great to work with and really demonstrated a lot of leadership with his friends.
Now he has a to inspect each of the blankets for loose threads and remaining fabric marker (used to mark the stabilizing stitching in the middles) then take them to the organization who will take them to Haiti for us. He's got a little paper work to finish up and then he's off for his final board of review! (and I'm happy to have two Eagles down; one left to go!)
8-02 Editing to add this 'hand-off' photo. Now, just a few loose ends on paperwork. . . .
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Caleb's Eagle Project
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5 comments:
Awesome project!!
I love to see boys sewing! What a great group that helped out with Caleb's project. Congratulations on another one down!
I was wondering if you could share with me the organization that sends things to Haiti every year. I've got a basement full of great stuff that Serving With Smiles has put together and we're always looking for people who can take our supplies where they are needed.
Suzanne, you can see with the photo I just added, that it is Serving with Smiles he went through. Sorry to not be of much help--but it's a great little organization!
hey gals, it will be going with Helping Hands for Haiti. They have a team of poeple that have gone in March the last few years, and one of the team members is in our ward. They mostly go for prosthetic work and do medical exams, give out vitamins in villages and orphanages,etc. They like to bring as many supplies as they can fit in their bags!!
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